The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-19
DANCING THE HULA HULA.
The Forbidden Pleasure of the Sand
q .t+ witch Islanders.


From the Sun Francisco Examiner.
was invited by native chief, whose ac-
quaintance had formed, to go with him to
witness real hula hula, genuine dance of
the good old time. l eagerly accepted his
Kindness, and at o'clock one beautiful
evening we started for the rendezvous, a ma
tive house, grass matched, and with walls of
slender canework. Arriving there we en-
tered large room, on the floor of which a
number OF native spectators lay stretched
on soft mats. Room was made for us.
and we had hardly taken our seats before
curtain, which was stretched at the far
end of the room, was drawn, and the enter
talnment commenced. First, the musicians
entered and sat down on one end of the
stage, which was simply large thick mat,
on three sides of which reclined the specta-
tors. The music consisted of six drums
three large and three small. The large ones
were enormous calabashes, the heads of
which were covered with tightly drawn
skins; the small ones were cocoanut shells
covered in the same manner.
The leader, a sprightly dame of 20 sum-
mers, was very important parsonage, as it
was her business to direct the performance
by the expression of her face and the action
of her hands. Suddenly strange chant
was raised, accompanied by a beating of the
drums III perfect Cllne.--l
This gradually died away, and two more
musicians appeared holding long sticks.
from which they elected clear notes by
striking them with shorter ones These took
places behind the rest of the orchestra, and
After Them all dancing in a row.
The comely virgins came with garlandS bright,
All fresh as flowers.
Ten girls, Enthusiastically dressed, with scarfs
bound round their waists and crowned with
garlands of flowers and with wreaths of
gardenias around their wrists and ankles,
made their way, with slow and graceful
movements, to the edge of the stage, on
which they sank just as the music ceased.
Some of these girls were beautiful and had
softly nodded limbs and figures of extreme
grace. At tap of the drum they raised
themselves to their knees and commenced a
wild song, to which they at first beat time
with clapping of their hands. Gradually
this changed into the most expressive pan
tomime. The sticks and drums took up the
measure; arms, hands and even fingers
spoke a torrent of words with precision
that the best-drilled ballet troupe
could never attain. The body
swayed back and forward, the slightest mo-
ton to the right or left by one being re-
peated by all. Something snakelike and
repulsive, anon seductive and pleasing, I'M
til finally wild tossing of the arms, fol-
lowed by a low wall, proclaimed the end of
the story, to the evident discontinue of the
maiden and the triumph of the lover. Dur
ing the interval required for rest, very
intricate performance was gone through by
four men and four women, who sat opposite
and close to one another Each held bam-
boo about two feet long and split at the end
into strips. When struck together they
made most peculiar sound, which formed
the accompaniment to the song.
A distinct rhythm was kept up all the time
by the bambooS, and as their sound began
to get somewhat monotonous loud cries were
raised for the hula" The dancers now
formed circle. Each held small Gala
bash ornamented with feathers and with
seeds inside, so that it could be used as a
tambourine or rattle. Slowly the ring be-
gins to circle round, hands and feet keeping
time in majestic, formal fashion. Soon
they quickened their steps and the sharp
rattle keeps up running fire, with now
and then deep boom from the big drum
The circle widens, and Just as with wild
grace the dancers reach the inner row of
spectators the music ceases and they throw
themselves down on the ground, leaving
two of their number standing in the centre
After pause the music and singing begin
again, and as they become more passionate
so does the dancing of the pair become more
intoxicating and abandoned. Others join
them, each pair working ont the old story of
coquetry, jealousy and the final surrender of
the maiden according to their own taste and
ideas. Soft, swaying movements, and a
gentle turning away, timid glances and
startled gestures gradually give place to
more rapturous passions. The excitement
of the dance inspires them to fresh and more
rapid evolutions until exhausted nature can
stand no more, and they drop fainting ON
their cushions.